MONROE, La. (June 28, 2008)--University of Texas-Arlington junior Bobby Massa birdied four of the first dozen holes at the W.E. Cole Cotton States Invitational to open up a lead he would never relenquish at the Bayou DeSiard Country Club in Monroe, La.

"I was hitting my driver well, and I was making my putts," Massa told the Monroe News Star. "I started the day a little tight, but just took a deep breath, and I was fine after that."

Massa was 4-up over University of Arkansas senior Will Osbourne through 12, when Osbourne birdied 14, then cut the lead to 2-up on the 16th when he took advantage of a Massa bogey while staring at dormie-3.

Massa bogeyed the 17th hole as well, but Osbourne couldn't make him pay for it, bogeying as well and giving Massa a 2 & 1 victory.

"There are a lot of wedge shots, a lot of opportunities to place the ball. In match play it's all about making birdies," Massa told the News Star.

It was his third appearance Massa, who faced his toughest match in the second round when he needed 20 holes to defeat local golfer Bob Cooper.

He defeated co-medalist Hudson Johnson easily in the quarterfinals, 5 & 4, then topped Ryan Haseldon 1-up in the semis.